UMaine 4-H Tanglewood – North Star 4-H Mentor

The UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Tanglewood is in Lincolnville, Maine. Our mission is to teach youth to be effective and caring citizens of the Earth through affordable environmental education and nature-based experiences. You will serve the broad mission of helping Maine youth improve their lives through research-based information and education. We carry out these missions through immersive youth development programs utilizing best practices in outdoor education, positive youth development, and mentorship. Our AmeriCorps members support the NorthStar 4-H Mentoring program based in Belfast, Maine.

As a mentor, you’ll foster healthy relationships with mentees, providing them the support they need to thrive. Members will directly support youth academic and social-emotional success and provide in-school, after-school, and weekend experiences around adventure and leadership, community engagement, and student sparks. These relationships are key to their ability to thrive beyond school, fostering their whole-life development. Students are rural and suburban youth who encompass many different demographics. Students are upper-elementary/middle school-aged.

School guidance counselors, principals, teachers, community members, and other AmeriCorps members serve as support. You’ll also be part of a larger network within the Aspirations Incubator Project, an initiative of the Rural Youth Institute. As part of the Maine 4-H network, you’ll learn more about Positive Youth Development, Youth Thriving, and Beyond Ready programming that aligns perfectly with your work with the NorthStar 4-H Mentees/students. 

As NorthStar 4-H Mentor at Tanglewood, you’ll work across three elementary schools, building relationships with the 5th graders before they move to the middle school for 6th grade. In this role, you’ll lead weekly in-school activities like group building, ecology, communication, and whatever else may help meet those students’ needs. You’ll also work as part of the team with Cohorts 1 and 2 at the middle school. These 15-20 member cohorts are identified by the school as those youth who could use a little extra support to get through grades 6-12. Cohorts can meet weekly at school, join together for after-school programs, and take longer adventures together on weekends and school breaks. You will be part of a team that builds lasting and long-term relationships between students, their families, the school, and the surrounding community.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: Free, seasonal housing (April-November) available (rustic in a camp cabin with no electricity and heated with wood), some meals during programming at Tanglewood, a supportive work environment, optional/possible training in 4-H Archery/Shooting Sports, environmental education, first aid/CPR, lifeguarding, or wilderness first aid.